5. THE HONOUR OF WEALTH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MODERATION IN GATHERING AND SPENDING IT
Know that a human being was created for a great (azim) cause, and he is required to believe in his Lord with evidence (dalil). It is not sufficient for him to imitate others (taqlid) in believing. This requires dedicating effort in seeking the evidence.
Man is also required to establish obligatory duties (iqamab almufruddf) and avoid sins (ijtinab al-muhdrim). And once his intention elevates to the level of wanting to seek knowledge (talab al-‘ilm), he must then dedicate more effort in doing so.
The most fortunate of people is he who receives enough sustenance not to need people’s charity, and he is content with it.
A person who does not have enough wealth will not be able to achieve the purpose of creation, because his effort will be directed entirely towards gathering wealth. He might resort to unlawful means in doing so, and he will spend his life in doing that which was not the purpose of his creation. Sometimes he might resort to humiliating himself.
A poet said:
All 1 need is enough sustenance to prevent me from humiliation,
So no one says: “It is so and so’s favour on so and so.”
So a wise person must preserve his wealth in order to focus on his efforts. He must not be wasteful so that his efforts do not become scattered. A person feels comfortable when he knows that his sustenance is available.
If a person does not have wealth, then he must gain enough to suffice him without becoming too excessive. He must accommodate his necessities and his efforts.
He must be content with little wealth. Once his intention becomes diverted towards excess wealth, then his efforts will become scattered. Not having wealth causes a person to become scattered, and seeking after excess wealth causes diversion as well. This will continue to the point when life itself becomes wasted for no other reason:
He who spends his days in preserving his wealth out of fear of poverty,
then what he has do n e w as to fall in to poverty itself.
So beware of this. If you do not put aside your children’s sustenance, then they will scatter your heart. Your nature is that of a child as well, so never seek your nature’s assistance.
Know the honour of wealth that made you focus your effort, and preserved your honour from people’s attacks.
And never become too generous to the point of becoming the poor one who seeks others’ assistance.
Allah’s Messenger noticed a poor person once and asked people to donate to him. Then another poor person came, so the first poor man gave the second from some of the donations that he had been given. The Prophet gave back that wealth to the first man, and forbid him from doing so again.
Contentment and not looking for excess wealth is the principle of all principles.
Imam Ahmad prevented himself from accepting gifts, therefore he became more focused. Yet because Imam Ibn Al-Madini became covetous, his reputation became bad.
And who is it that will give you wealth? It will either be an oppressive Sultan, a bragging giver, or a friend who sees his favour upon you. Pride is sweeter than all sweet things, and it is best to be free from the chains of others conferring favours upon you, even if it means eating sand.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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